Helen. "But that could never bind ME. Why, I
must live and fulfil my mission, my work in the civilized world."

It seemed to Helen that Dale almost imperceptibly shrank at her earnest
words.

"The ways of Nature are strange," he said. "I look at it different.
Nature's just as keen to wean you back to a savage state as you are to
be civilized. An' if Nature won, you would carry out her design all the
better."

This hunter's talk shocked Helen and yet stimulated her mind.

"Me--a savage? Oh no!" she exclaimed. "But, if that were possible, what
would Nature's design be?"

"You spoke of your mission in life," he replied. "A woman's mission is
to have children. The female of any species has only one mission--to
reproduce its kind. An' Nature has only one mission--toward greater
strength, virility, efficiency--absolute perfection, which is
unattainable."

"What of mental and spiritual development of man and woman?" asked
Helen.

"Both are direct obstacles to the design of Nature. Nature is physical.
To create for limitless endurance for eternal life. That must be
Nature's inscrutable design. An' why she must fail."

"But the soul!" whispered Helen.

"Ah! When you speak of the soul an' I speak of life we mean the same.
You an' I will have some talks while you're here. I must brush up my
thoughts."

"So must I, it seems," said Helen, with a slow smile. She had been
rendered grave and thoughtful. "But I guess I'll risk dreaming under the
pines."

Bo had been watching them with her keen blue eyes.

"Nell, it'd take a thousand years to make a savage of you," she said.
"But a week will do for me."

"Bo, you were one before you left Saint Joe," replied Helen. "Don't you
remember that school-teacher Barnes who said you were a wildcat and an
Indian mixed? He spanked you with a ruler."

"Never! He missed me," retorted Bo, with red in her cheeks. "Nell, I
wish you'd not tell things about me when I was a kid."

"That was only two years ago," expostulated Helen, in mild surprise.

"Suppose it was. I was a kid all right. I'll bet you--" Bo broke up
abruptly, and, tossing her head, she gave Tom a pat and then ran away
around the corner of cliff wall.

Helen followed leisurely.

"Say, Nell," said Bo, when Helen arrived at their little green
ledge-pole hut, "do you know that hunter fellow will upset some of your
theories?"

"Maybe. I'll admit he amazes me--and affronts me, too, I'm afraid,"
replied Helen. "What surp